Every teenager's dream is to grasp his license in his hands. A sense of freedom comes into the teenage mind when he realizes that he can now go anywhere. It is always a wonderful sensation to drive somewhere with the radio up high and your friends by your side. But, did you know that drivers under the age of nineteen are involved in a crash every 18 minutes? Did you also know that most of them are injury related crashes?
A teenager's mind is never as focused on the road as it should be. Don't deny it either; I am part of the youth in Tennessee, too! Your mind should always focus on the main objective that you are trying to accomplish. In other words, getting from point A to B is your main goal. If you don't pay attention, you probably won't achieve it. Today's teenage drivers are responsible for about five times as many fatal crashes per license holder as are drivers between the ages of 35-64.
Don't believe me? A girl from a local high school was in the Vanderbilt trauma unit for around two weeks because she decided that she would pay attention to something other than the road. She overcorrected her car after swerving into the other lanes and ran into a telephone pole. The girl and her friend were both badly injured and have yet to return to their school due to their states of confusion from the concussions they developed.
Another issue with teenage drivers is seatbelts. Teenagers are among the lowest percentile to wear seatbelts. Sure, they don't look cool, but you won't either if you refuse to put one on. Just because there is an airbag in front of you does not give you the safety you need if you are involved in a crash. That airbag will not keep you from becoming a projectile through your windshield. You do not want to lose your life just because you were too lazy to put a strap over your shoulder.
Here are just a few more tips for teenagers on how to become a safer driver:
--Do not drink and drive. (This one is relatively obvious, but you have no clue how many teenagers do not take it seriously.)
--Do not speed. (Once again, this is an obvious statement, but it is vastly underestimated. If you speed, it could take your life, especially when road conditions are poor. Your money is also at risk, if you are given a ticket!)
--Do not talk on the phone while driving. (A recent study found that talking on the phone while driving quadruples the risk of having a crash. Talking on the phone is a major distraction.)
--Do not keep the radio too loud. (This is also a distraction from the road.)
--Think Ahead. (Do not just watch what is in front of you. Be careful of your surroundings and know the risks of where you are driving.)